Image: If Optimus Prime had been grey-colored and Maximal-sized, he would look like Optimus Primal looks. His head is helmet-like, with red optics and the lower face covered with a mask. The mask slits open most of the time, so that Optimus's mouth is visible when he talks. For battle, the mask is one closed form. He has five-fingered hands, rocket launchers mounted to the back of the arms. He also has flight power in robot mode, through thrusters mounted to his back. In beast mode, he is a gorilla, grey-to-black furred.

History: You advanced very quickly in the ranks. The higher-ups knew you had an honest face: Optimus Prime's, to be exact, and most could see the resemblance. It wasn't your fault you were "Optimus Primal," but a few of the older commanders, who worked harder for their rank, resented you. You had your namesake's love for peace and tolerance, and would rather run an exploration expedition than a military strike against anything. You were given a small crew: two more experienced members, and a young 'bot you immediately thought of as a surrogate son. Soon, you were headed out from Cybertron on an exploration and possible colonization mission.
(Perhaps the idea of "exploration" was a major goal, but in a way, it was also a pretense. You have a criminal locked in the hold, in a stasis pod. This indestructible "Protoform X" was to be dumped as soon as possible on the most desolate planet you can find. The hunter that brought this killer to the Maximal Elders would have rather seen him exterminatedhe's one of the ones that resents you.)
On your way into the stars on your (mostly) peaceful mission, you were sent a signal from Cybertron. A renegade Predacon calling himself (of all thingsisn't this fitting?) Megatron, had stolen an artifact called The Golden Disk, which was Maximal property. Your ship, underequipped for a chase and battle, was the only ship in range to pursue the Predacon criminals. The Predacons used their transwarp drive to travel in time; you followed, though unsure of their destination, and fighting them all the way. Eventually, both ships were damaged severely. Before crashing down on an unknown, blue planet, you gave the order to jettison all stasis pods in the hold, to prevent their being damaged (or, Primus forbid, all activated?). Luckily, your four-person crew survived, and chose alternate modes to explore the energon-rich planet. Eventually, you were to discover dissension in the Predacon ranks, and a Predacon, willing to join your side of the conflict.

Roleplaying hints: You're doing the best you can. Give the orders and keep the peace. It won't always be easy, especially with a Predacon defected to your ranks. Dinobot seems willing to pick a fight; he would rather lead than allow a "sentimental" Maximal to give him orders. Rattrap dislikes him, and is a problem of his own: he is high-ranking himself and sometimes denies your orders outright. Cheetor sees you as a father and is very willing to help you, but he can be impetuous. Rhinox is someone steady to "fall back on," but as the officer, Rattrap is considered your second. In battle, stick to tactics; don't rush into situations without preparation. Don't allow violence to get out of hand, even when fighting the enemy, and especially within your own ranks. And try not to let the whole process drive you insane.

Quotes: "I would never give an order I would not be willing to do myself."(Usually sarcastically) "Well, that's just prime."

Timeline: Optimus will never lose his position as the leader of the Maximals in the Beast Wars, and leads despite frequent cast changes.

Note: Optimus Primal's size class is significantly altered from the action figure release, which was an Ultra class. I justify dropping Optimus Primal to a Deluxe size at the start, due to his stature when compared with the also Deluxe-class Dinobot.

Image: In beast mode, Optimus is still a gorilla; however, the majority of his body is a brilliant blue metal. His long arms and shorter legs are silver. For his vehicle mode, he retracts a hoverboard from his legs, using jet thrusters to propel himself. His robot mode is very similar to his beast mode, but his legs are longer and his chestplate is a bronze shade. His robot face retains a lot of the features of the gorilla, such as a pinched nose and markings like fur around the edge of the helmet. He has lost a slight amount of the resemblance he bears to his great ancestor. As a vehicle mode, Optimus Primal produces a hoverboard from the feet of his beast mode, which he uses to coast in the air. His beast mode also provides one great advantage: because the hands Optimus uses in both modes are identical, he can wield weapons equally well in either mode.

History: When the aliens launched their attack on the planet Earth, Optimus knew he was the one who had to stop it. Using a makeshift ship, fashioned from a downed stasis pod, Optimus Primal met the alien weapon head-on. Unfortunately, when the weapon was destroyed, so was the ship, and its lone passenger. Luckily, there was a blank protoform fallen near the Maximal base. Rhinox took it upon himself to perform a very dangerous Procedure, and bring Optimus's still-functional spark back from the Matrix. When Optimus was revived in his new body, he found himself a Transmetal, more powerful than ever.

Roleplaying hints: You're proud of your unit, which has gone from rag-tag to full-fledged. Not only have they improved as troops, you've improved as leader. You've learned a lot from your work on the field...though you still have a long way to go. Preserving teamwork is still your primary objective. You search for non-violent ways to resolve the most violent of conflicts; fight only when no other recourse exists. Preserve the safety of your troops as best you can...even if they object to your orders. Be firm with those who don't appriciate the finality of your decisions.

Timeline: Optimus's body is destroyed at the end of the episode "Other Voices, Part Two." He is successfully revived as a Transmetal in "Coming of the Fuzors, Part Two."

Image: At approximately twenty-five feet in height, Optimal Optimus towers above the Predacons he challenges. His facial resemblance to Optimus Prime, which faded slightly in his Transmetal body, has now returned to an uncanny level. The slit in the "mask" across his face can still close tight when the old spark burns its brightest, and the occasional Autobot mannerisms sneak into Optimus's speech. Probably the most striking features Optimal Optimus has in any mode involve his long arms and huge enveloping hands, which are given to broad gestures and forceful punches when he is in robot form, and used as a battering ram in his ground assault form. In ape form, he walks forward on his knuckles. Large-toed feet are prominent even in his air-assault mode. His main cannons ride over his shoulders in robot mode, and over his back in his vehicle modes.

History: In a desperate attempt to destroy Maximal-kind forever, Megatron broke into the Autobot Ark and confronted Optimus Primal's ancestor, Optimus Prime. He blasted the Autobot leader, an act which altered time itself. With help from Blackarachnia, the Maximal crew was able to stop Megatron and begin to repair Prime. However, his precious spark wouldn't last long in such a severely damaged body, so Optimus Primal took it upon himself to incubate the spark within his own body. What he did not know was that the spark's power would begin to meld with his own, causing his body to grow and change. By the time Optimus Prime was repaired, Optimus Primal had become "Optimal Optimus," a fused combination of both of the commanders, and a figure powerful enough to strike fear into any Predacon spark.

Roleplaying hints: What you've learned from Prime has made you a better leader: confident, self-assured. Though your orders may not always be flawless, they are always to be respected. You've also learned a good deal about the Matrix itself; if dying once didn't teach you about the secrets of the Other Side, Optimus Prime certainly has. You realize now who you've become, and that your role will be an epic one. You are fearless and headstrong, but you speak for peace while you war for justice. Make bold moves when you have to. Quote the Covenant; quote Prime. You no longer need to ask yourself what Optimus Prime would do in any situation you face, as you can ask his spark on your own.

Timeline: Optimus becomes Optimal Optimus in the episode aptly titled "Optimal Situation." From there on, he leads his crew to final victory over the Predacon team. He returns home with his Maximal unit in "Nemesis."